Physical Organic Chemistry of Materials: Probing Structure-Reactivity and Demonstrating Application

该计划的目的是解决界面有机反应的基本方面，并利用所获得的知识来设计和合成新材料，并展示潜在的应用。分子在溶液中的反应得到了物理有机化学的良好直觉和一套方法的支持，但分子在固-液或固-固界面上的反应并没有得到很好的理解，因为它们的行为方式与溶液中的反应方式非常不同。 我们正在解决这些问题，通过研究光诱导，氧化还原活化和热反应的化学性质（结构反应性关系，构象和取向的流动性）和物理性质（结构，有序无序现象，反应条件）。 在许多情况下，光活性或电活性部分还用作化学的分析传感器/报告器。 此外，我们发现的反应为选择性表面修饰提供了新的平台，以构建新的结构。对这些因素的全面了解对于特定应用的任何改性表面的合理设计和控制至关重要。 这些研究背后的重要性和动机在于认识到有机薄膜在分子和生物分子电子学、传感器、催化和其他应用的发展中对功能材料的效用。 从事这些项目的人员获得有机合成方法和分析，无机和有机材料化学及其表征的专业技术方面的专业知识和广泛培训，以及电化学和光化学方面的高级技能。在过去的17年里，我所在的小组中参与HQP的研究生和研究助理都有100%的专业安置。

The aim of this program is to address fundamental aspects of interfacial organic reactions and utilize the knowledge gained to design and synthesize new materials and to demonstrate potential applications. Reactions of molecules in solution are supported by a well developed intuition and set of methods from physical organic chemistry, but the reactions of molecules at the solid-liquid or solid-solid interface are not as well understood because they often behave in ways that are very different from those in solution. We are addressing these issues by examining photoinduced, redox activated and thermal reactivity in terms of chemical properties (structure-reactivity relationships, conformational and orientation mobility) and physical properties (structure, order-disorder phenomena, reaction conditions). In many cases the photoactive or electroactive moiety also serves as an analytical sensor/reporter of the chemistry. Furthermore, the reactions we discovery provide new platforms for selective surface modifications to build new architectures. A complete understanding of these factors is essential for the rationale design and control of any modified surface for a particular application. The importance and motivation behind these studies lies in the recognition of the utility of organic thin films on functional materials in the development of molecular and biomolecular electronics, sensors, catalysis and other applications. Personnel working on these projects gain expertise and broad training in organic synthetic methods and analysis, inorganic and organic materials chemistry and the specialized techniques for their characterization, in addition to advanced skills in electrochemistry and photochemistry. Graduate students and research associates involved in HQP from my group have had a 100% professional placement over the last 17 years.